Company profile: Remei
Headquarters: Rotkreuz
Country: Switzerland
Founded in: 1983
Total points of sale in Europe: n.a.
Owned by: Patrick Hohmann and others
Name of CEO: Patrick Hohmann
Product description: Outerwear for women, men, children, and babies; single jersey, pique, 1x1 rib, interlock, and sweat; also available are Lycra blended fabrics. All styles and colours; fashionable look with transfer print, serigraphy, rotary printing, and embroideries. Carry-on Bags made from bioRe cotton.
Countries of production: India, Lithuania
General remark: n.a.
Remei
Lettenstrasse 9
6343 Rotkreuz
info(at)remei.ch
Comment from CCC and proposals for action
The Remei AG does not sell its goods directly to consumers but rather to retailers. Remei’s most important customer is Coop, for whom they have manufactured Coop’s Naturaline series since 1995. Other customers include Monoprix France, Greenpeace, elkline, and more & more. The German Rewe Group (who sells Remei T-shirts at the German discount store Penny) has been a customer since June 2008. Remei AG is one of the few suppliers who works to integrate its commitment to ethical responsibility along the entire supply chain. Remei attaches importance to long-term relationships with its suppliers and has developed, along with over 10,000 farmers in India and Tanzania, its own organic-cotton projects. An SA8000 certificate is required by all production factories. For factories which currently have no certificate, SA8000 conformity based on BSCI is required. Remei itself has been SA8000 certified since 2004. What is problematic from CCC’s perspective is that such a large portion of the responsibility is pushed onto the suppliers. What is also questionable is why Remei places so much value on the often-criticized "professional" auditors as it is well-known that social audits alone do not often uncover grievances. Due to Remei’s approach and high transparency, it is incomprehensible why the company has not yet had its production examined from an independent verification organization. There have been discussions with a verification organization; however, membership is still pending. Nevertheless, due to their exemplary transparency and strategy to build a sustainable supply chain, we see Remei as a forerunner - however one with potential for improvement.
Take action: Express your appreciation to Remei for being a model of transparency and appropriate strategy. Encourage Remei to join a verification organization such as the Fair Wear Foundation.
The following evaluation of the company’s performance in terms of transparency, code implementation and monitoring of labour standards is based on the company’s response to the questionnaire from the CCC and on an additional desk study conducted by the CCC in 2007. In the section “Recent developments” you can find additional information gathered after 2007.
Transparency
Remei has responded to the CCC-questionnaire and has provided some additional documents. The company is transparent with regard to many figures such as turnover, profits, sales and corporate structure. The amount of salaries of the top management is not known. Information is given about producer countries and the structure of the supply chain. A sustainability report is publicly available that meets international reporting standards (GRI). Remei provides results of factory audits but no information about verification activities. General targets for future monitoring activities and for improving respect of labour rights in the facilities used are formulated on the basis of social audit outcomes.
Formal commitment to labour standards
Remei has adopted a code of conduct that includes a reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and requires compliances with all relevant local labour laws. The code also indicates that where local and international standards are at variance the higher standard should prevail. The company is formally committed to respecting minimum labour standards in all workplaces where their products are made, in accordance with ILO Core Conventions. These include the right to organise and bargain collectively and prohibit child labour, discrimination, and forced labour. Remei’s code of conduct applies to all workers affected by labour practices for which the company has some measure of responsibility. The code of conduct includes measures to implement the code and monitor labour conditions in the facilities used. Beyond the ILO Core Conventions, the company is committed to workers’ right to earn a living wage (i.e. a wage for standard working hours that meets the basic needs of workers and their families and provides some discretionary income). Overtime is stipulated to be occasional only and is paid at a premium rate The company’s code calls for a safe and hygienic environment for the workers who produce its garments and/or sportswear. The company explicitly requires that all workers receive a regular employment contract. Beyond the labour standards mentioned above, the company code is not precise enough on some specific issues. It does not state its commitment in relation to*:
Code implementation and purchasing practices
The code of conduct is translated into all the languages of the countries the company is sourcing from; every buying contract states the obligation for the supplier to comply with the code. Remei agrees to pay a living wage, but does not document its calculations. There are no provisions to give buyers positive incentives to reward better working conditions.
Monitoring and Verification
The company is not a member of any business initiative. There are some information known to CCC about monitoring activities. The company is not involved in independent verification by a multi-stakeholder approach.
Violations of labour rights and public conflicts
There are no public urgent appeals from CCC calling on Remei to take responsibility for workers’ rights violations in its supply chain.
Recent developments
n.a.